The Star Trek Encyclopedia (2nd ed., p. 341) listed this runabout with registry NCC-72905. The book stated that the Orinoco was named after the Orinoco river which, with a length of 2,410 kilometers, was one of the largest rivers of South America.

In an article in Billboard in June 1994, an article writer speculated that the Orinoco might have also been named after Orinoco Flow, a song by Enya: ""According to those who should know, Enya may remain on the chart well into the 24th century. One of the runabouts on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" is named the Orinoco. Yes, it's after the river, but surely the writers were inspired by Enya's first Hot 100 single, 'Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)'". [1]